Clinical characteristics and associated factors of cerebral palsy in pediatric population: a tertiary care centre clinicoepidemiological study

Background: Although, a highly prevalent disease, the etiology of cerebral palsy is still poorly understood thereby eluding a definitive prevention strategy. Our study aimed to evaluate the etiological, clinical and prognostic factors associated with cerebral palsy in children of western Rajasthan. Methods: All cases of non-progressive neurological disorder in the age group of 6 months to 14 years were enrolled in the present study. Detailed assessment, CNS examination and related neuroimaging were performed. Statistical analysis was done by standard statistical methods. Results: Maximum number of patients in current study were in the age group of 1-3 years. In our study according to sex, 40 (66.67%) were males and 20 (33.33) were females. Most of the patient in the present study were spastic quadriplegic type (40%) followed by spastic diplegia in 20% cases. As per gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) grading, maximum number of cases were 16 (26.67%) from grade 4. The most common sequelae in cerebral palsy were speech delay in 49 (81.66%) patients. Cortical atrophy was the most commonly (71.73%) seen abnormality on neuroimaging with CT-scan. Conclusions: Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive CNS disorder which has a major physical as well as psychological effects on the children as well as their families. The present study highlights the importance of understanding epidemiological and etiological aspects of the disease in Indian scenario

Modeling, Simulation and multi-objective optimization of industrial, low-density polyethylene reactor

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Method of Selecting an Optimal Set of Citizens Broadband Service Devices (CBSDs)

This publication describes an algorithm that enables a user equipment (UE) to use scattered citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) networks while reducing the need for the UE to continuously scan for CBRS coverage and limiting stored data for the numerous citizens broadband radio service devices (CBSDs). The algorithm allows the UE to decrease battery use and optimize the UE’s use of its memory resources

Carotid Intima Media Thickness as a Marker of Atherosclerosis in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Aim. Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have been observed in ankylosing spondylitis because of accelerated atherosclerosis. We measured carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis in this study. Methods. In this study 37 cases of AS and the same number of matched individuals were recruited. CIMT measurements were done using B-mode ultrasound. Disease activity was assessed using Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), and Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrological index (BASMI) scores and C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels. Results. Mean age of the study groups was 29.43 ± 9.00 years. Average disease duration was 65.62 ± 54.92 months. Twenty-eight (75.68%) of cases were HLA B-27 positive. A significantly increased CIMT was observed in cases as compared to control group (0.62 ± 0.12 versus 0.54 ± 0.04; P<0.001). CIMT in the cases group positively correlated with age (r=0.357; P<0.05), duration of disease (r=0.549; P<0.01), and BASMI (r=0.337; P<0.05) and negatively correlated with ESR (r=−0.295; P<0.05). Conclusions. Patients of AS had a higher CIMT than those of the control group. CIMT correlated with disease chronicity

Anti-Microbial Activity of Hempseed Oil and Sage Oil against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans: An In-Vitro Study

Objective: To assess the anti-microbial activity of sage oil and hempseed oil against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Material and Methods: The sage oil and hempseed oil in pure extract form were collected from an authorized government organization. The anti-microbial activity from the oils was assessed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Standard antibiotics Vancomycin and Fluconazole were taken as a positive control for Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, respectively. The mean zone of inhibition (ZOI) was measured at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours by HI-MEDIAs antibiotic zone scale. One-way Analysis of variance with Tukey’s Post Hoc was applied for statistical analysis. Results: The mean zone of inhibition of sage oil and hempseed oil at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours against Streptococcus mutans was (7.0 ± 4.24, 9.1 ± 3.71 and 8.4 ± 3.02) and (0.0, 3.2 ± 0.75, 1.9 ± 1.24) respectively. The zone of inhibition against Candida albicans 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours for sage oil (2.80 ± 1.151, 6.70 ± 1.30 and 6.30 ± 1.44), hempseed oil (0.0, 3.80 ± 0.75, 3.10 ± 0.41). Sage oil presented potential anti-microbial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Comparing the anti-microbial efficacy, standard antibiotic (Vancomycin/Fluconazole) was more effective than test oils. Conclusion: Test oils showed anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Among these, sage oil showed efficacy at 24 hours, while hempseed oil did not show any effect at this time point. Further studies are needed to affirm the same and test their efficacy in different forms and concentrations

Effectiveness of Systematic Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Nepalese Schoolchildren: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Echocardiographic screening allows for early detection of subclinical stages of rheumatic heart disease among children in endemic regions. Objective To investigate the effectiveness of systematic echocardiographic screening in combination with secondary antibiotic prophylaxis on the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease. Design, Setting, and Participants This cluster randomized clinical trial included students 9 to 16 years of age attending public and private schools in urban and rural areas of the Sunsari district in Nepal that had been randomly selected on November 17, 2012. Echocardiographic follow-up was performed between January 7, 2016, and January 3, 2019. Interventions In the experimental group, children underwent systematic echocardiographic screening followed by secondary antibiotic prophylaxis in case they had echocardiographic evidence of latent rheumatic heart disease. In the control group, children underwent no echocardiographic screening. Main Outcomes and Measures Prevalence of the composite of definite or borderline rheumatic heart disease according to the World Heart Federation criteria in experimental and control schools as assessed 4 years after intervention. Results A total of 35 schools were randomized to the experimental group (n = 19) or the control group (n = 16). After a median of 4.3 years (interquartile range [IQR], 4.0-4.5 years), 17 of 19 schools in the experimental group (2648 children; median age at follow-up, 12.1 years; IQR, 10.3-12.5 years; 1308 [49.4%] male) and 15 of 16 schools in the control group (1325 children; median age at follow-up, 10.6 years; IQR, 10.0-12.5 years; 682 [51.5%] male) underwent echocardiographic follow-up. The prevalence of definite or borderline rheumatic heart disease was 10.8 per 1000 children (95% CI, 4.7-24.7) in the control group and 3.8 per 1000 children (95% CI, 1.5-9.8) in the experimental group (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.11-1.07; P = .06). The prevalence in the experimental group at baseline had been 12.9 per 1000 children (95% CI, 9.2-18.1). In the experimental group, the odds ratio of definite or borderline rheumatic heart disease at follow-up vs baseline was 0.29 (95% CI, 0.13-0.65; P = .008). Conclusions and Relevance School-based echocardiographic screening in combination with secondary antibiotic prophylaxis in children with evidence of latent rheumatic heart disease may be an effective strategy to reduce the prevalence of definite or borderline rheumatic heart disease in endemic regions. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01550068

Insight into the oxidation mechanism of furanic compounds on Pt(111)

Partial oxidation of multifunctional oxygenates is of interest for the production of high-value chemicals, but the understanding of the mechanism on Pt catalysts is lacking. To probe the effects of oxygen in the reaction of furanics on Pt(111), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), electrochemical catalytic experiments, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted. The presence of oxygen on the Pt(111) surface significantly altered the reaction paths for furan and furfuryl alcohol oxidation. Although furan desorbed without reaction from clean Pt(111) during TPD, on the O precovered surface, extensive oxidation and decomposition reactions were observed. The main volatile products were H2O, CO, and CO2. HREEL spectra and DFT calculations indicated that furan initially reacted through oxygen addition to the ring to produce surface-adsorbed furanone intermediates. For furfuryl alcohol, the same desorption products were formed, but maleic anhydride was also detected as a trace product. HREELS and DFT calculations suggested that alcohol oxidation proceeded through dehydrogenation at the hydroxyl and methylene groups and subsequent oxidation to produce a carboxylate intermediate. The carboxylate intermediate underwent decarboxylation to form CO2 and surface furyl intermediates, which then underwent deep oxidation and decomposition. Thus, the presence of the oxygenated side chain on the furan ring for furfuryl alcohol strongly influenced the oxidation chemistry. Comparison of furfural electrocatalytic oxidation results on Pd (collected here) and Pt (from previous work) indicated that Pt is less active for C&ndash;C activation but more active for insertion of oxygen atoms into the furan ring, in line with the current and previously published surface science results.</p

Methodologies for Housing Justice Resource Guide

This Resource Guide is the outcome of a Summer Institute on Methodologies for Housing Justice convened by the Institute on Inequality and Democracy at UCLA Luskin as part of the Housing Justice in Unequal Cities Network, which is supported by the National Science Foundation (BCS 1758774). Held in Los Angeles in August 2019, the Summer Institute brought together participants from cities around the world. As is the case with the overall scope and purpose of the Housing Justice in Unequal Cities Network, it created a shared terrain of scholarship for movement-based and university-based scholars. Dissatisfied with the canonical methods that are in use in housing studies and guided by housing justice movements that are active research communities, the Summer Institute was premised on the assertion that methodology is political. Methodology is rooted in arguments about the world and involves relations of power and knowledge. The method itself – be it countermapping or people’s diaries – does not ensure an ethics of solidarity and a purpose of justice. Such goals&nbsp;require methodologies for liberation. Thus, as is evident in this Resource Guide, our endeavor foregrounds innovative methods that are being used by researchers across academia and activism and explicitly situates such methods in an orientation towards housing justice

Arabinose as an overlooked sugar for microbial bioproduction of chemical building blocks

The circular economy is anticipated to bring a disruptive transformation in manufacturing technologies. Robust and industrial scalable microbial strains that can simultaneously assimilate and valorize multiple carbon substrates are highly desirable, as waste bioresources contain substantial amounts of renewable and fermentable carbon, which is diverse. Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is identified as an inexhaustible and alternative resource to reduce global dependence on oil. Glucose, xylose, and arabinose are the major monomeric sugars in LCB. However, primary research has focused on the use of glucose. On the other hand, the valorization of pentose sugars, xylose, and arabinose, has been mainly overlooked, despite possible assimilation by vast microbial communities. The present review highlights the research efforts that have explicitly proven the suitability of arabinose as the starting feedstock for producing various chemical building blocks via biological routes. It begins by analyzing the availability of various arabinose-rich biorenewable sources that can serve as potential feedstocks for biorefineries. The subsequent section outlines the current understanding of arabinose metabolism, biochemical routes prevalent in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, and possible products that can be derived from this sugar. Further, currently, exemplar products from arabinose, including arabitol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,2,3-butanetriol, ethanol, lactic acid, and xylitol are discussed, which have been produced by native and non-native microbial strains using metabolic engineering and genome editing tools. The final section deals with the challenges and obstacles associated with arabinose-based production, followed by concluding remarks and prospects